Archive for December, 2011

According to UH assistant coach Tony Tuioti, former Warrior defensive tackles Vaughn Meatoga and Kaniela Tuipulotu have been invited to play in the Jan. 21 East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Meatoga also has been invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February.

Assistant head coach Cal Lee has been told he will not be retained on the UH coaching staff after his contract expires on March 31.

Lee has been at UH for nine seasons, coaching linebackers and defensive ends. He was the Warriors' defensive coordinator in 2008 and 2009, Greg McMackin's first two seasons as UH head coach. Lee's success at Saint Louis School is well-documented.

That leaves three coaches from the 2011 staff — offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich, defensive line coach Tony Tuioti and director player personnel George Lumpkin. Head coach Norm Chow will interview those three next week.

In clearing the way for the new head coach, UH decided it only would honor prospects with signed commitments, such as grayshirts who inked scholarship agreements. Woolsey had made an oral commitment to join the Warriors in January, but did not sign a scholarship agreement (a pact that binds the school, but not the player, to a scholarship). After Norm Chow was named UH coach, it was decided to honor the agreement with Woolsey.

During the 2011 fall semester, Woolsey was enrolled at City College of San Francisco, but did not play for the Rams. Woolsey knew if he played for CCSF he would lose a year of NCAA eligibility. By joining UH in January, Woolsey will have five years to play four seasons and participate in five offseason programs.

* * * * *

David Graves will enter Chow's first offseason program as the No. 1 quarterback, although the position will be contested during spring training.

* * * * *

It is not known if quarterback Stump Godfrey, who redshirted in the fall after transferring from New Mexico, has decided to return.

EL PASO — Norm Chow noted that he has been in Hawaii only one day during his one-week tenure as UH head coach. To be precise, it was a 13-hour trip.

Chow, who will remain on the mainland for at least another week, will have telephone interviews with some members of the 2011 coaching staff next week, then meet with the players Jan. 10. The Warriors will begin hosting recruits Jan. 13. Chow said offensive linemen top the wish list. He also plans to honor oral commitments. Translation: Dustin Adams retains his offer.

Expect these changes:

• T-shirts and shorts will be out as travel wear.

• Practices probably will be closed to the public.

• No decision yet on the practice times. The past 13 years, the Warriors were one of the few teams to practice in the morning. Chow will decide after reviewing class schedules.

* * * * *

Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake said Lewis Walker is being used as the scout quarterback helping to simulate Georgia Tech's triple-option offense. Walker, who was raised in Salt Lake City, is a former UH defensive back.

* * * * *

Another difference between Pac-12 schools and a school in the Pacific is detailed equipment trucks:

I think UH uses trucks borrowed from the University of Haul. I have noticed U-Haul logos.

* * * * *

Well, it appears that UTEP and UH will be reunited. The alliance between Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference, of which UH will join as a football member in July, will result in two divisions. UTEP and the MWC schools will be part of the western division.

Norm Chow's reputation as an elite quarterback coach is proving to be attractive.

Ohio State quarterback Taylor Graham told the Cleveland Plain Dealer he is set to transfer to UH.

Of course, it is not yet a done deal. For one thing, this is a dead period, and UH must wait until next week to approach Graham. There's also the matter of the school being closed this week.

But signs are favorable. As a high school senior, Graham, whose father Kent Graham played in the NFL, was recruited by Chow, who was UCLA's offensive coordinator at the time. In deciding to transfer, Graham requested — and received — a scholarship release. He had listed UH among the destination schools on his request list.

If Graham transfers to UH, he must sit out the 2012 season. After that, he will have two years to play two seasons.

UH also has drawn interest from two other quarterbacks. But the Warriors are in a holding pattern until after the dead period.

He said he has interviewed some interested candidates, as well as spoken with a couple of members from the 2011 UH coaching staff. But he said he won't make any decisions until after speaking with more coaches and reviewing formal applications.

Chow arrived in El Paso yesterday to coach Utah's offense in Saturday's Sun Bowl. He said he hopes to have the "majority" of his staff in place by the second week in January.

One coach who will not be on his staff is Rich Miano, who served as interim head coach after Greg McMackin reached a release agreement with UH. Miano is a former UH coach who played 11 seasons in the NFL and coached 13 years at UH. The Warriors' 2011 coaching staff is on contract through March 31, 2012. The exception is Mouse Davis, who appears to have retired from UH.